Assignment #2, due July 16 in class

In our July 7 and 9 classes, we studied two "tipping point" communication cases where "what was said" at a particular moment made all the difference to the outcome of the case.

In a paper of approximately two pages (single-spaced, with double-space between paragraphs), write about your own thoughts on the "tipping point" problem in personal and professional communications. You may want to consider such questions as the following:

-- What types of situations make us prone to uttering thoughtless, unwise comments or remarks? Can we sensitize ourselves to such situations so that we're "on alert" against damaging utterances?
-- Why do others so often "follow like sheep" once the tipping point comment has been made? Why don't others simply correct our untoward remark and then move on more productively and constructively?
-- What are some of the difficulties involved in "taking back" the tipping point comment or remark?
-- How does advanced education (such as an MBA) actually increase the problem of making a wrong-headed tipping point remark? In other words, why is the CEO more at risk with regard to tipping point communications than is the gas station attendant?

Please don't organize your work around a point-by-point set of answers to these questions in order. Instead, consider the broad issue of tipping point communication, then try to answer several of these questions in the course of writing your paper. You certainly do not have answer each question.